Best of Japan - Gardens of Japan

Japan Tour - Gardens of Japan

We have designed this Best of Japan tour to provide additional focus
on some of the best examples of Japanese garden design. This two week tour around Japan
includes many of the famous, historic and
noteworthy sights Japan has to offer. From
the metropolis of Tokyo to the mountain township of Takayama our "Best of" tours
allow you to experience what Japan has to offer.

As we provide custom tours, we have personalised the schedule for a confirmed
departure at the beginning of November 2017. This schedule also allows for
early arrivals and later departures if that matches your travel dates. Alternatively, check out our
other scheduled tours, or design your own tour to suit your own interests.

Limited Time Sale - November Tour 2017

To mark the third anniversary of Japan Custom Tours we are offing our
November tours with a 10% discount. To obtain this discount, be sure to
mention it with your inquiry.

Schedule

Friday 3rd November Tokyo: We will meet you at the airport (either
Haneda or Narita) and transfer you to your hotel in central Tokyo.

Upon arrival, after clearing Immigration, luggage collection and Customs, they
will meet you at the exit of the Arrivals Hall. You will recognise us as we will
have a welcome sign displaying your name and our company logo. For Narita
arrivals we then take the Narita Express (N'Ex) train into the city. For Haneda
arrivals we take local trains (which require a single station transfer).

Saturday 4th November Tokyo: Visit Asukusa Kaminarimon (Thunder gate),
Hozomon and pagoda. An array of stalls lines Nakamise Street (the entrance to
this shrine) providing a wide range of souvenirs and snacks on the approach to
Sensoji Temple.

In the afternoon, visit Shinjuku and enjoy the view from the Tokyo Metropolitan
Building (200 metres above ground level). There is also time to see the
expansive Shinjuku National Gardens with its interesting and large green-house.

Sunday 5th November Tokyo: Hakone day trip: Romance Car train from Tokyo to
Hakone-Yumoto, bus to Lake Ashi (walk along the cedar avenue to the Hakone
checkpoint), boat cruise across the lake to Togendai, ropeway and the Tozan
cable car, Tozan train back to Hakone-Yumoto for the return trip to Tokyo.
Hakone provides many places to view Mt Fuji (on a clear day) including from the
lake and the ropeway.

Monday 6th November Tokyo: Day trip to either:

Nikko: Taking the bullet train north and then the local train to visit the
famous shrines at Nikko including the lavishly decorated Toshugu shrine and
Iemitsu mausoleum.

Sendai: Head north by Shinkansen to Sendai. Then take the local train to visit
Matsushima Bay, one of the three "?views of Japan"? and the cruise around the bay
with its many beautiful pine-tree covered islands. After viewing the pine
covered islands, walk to Zuigan-ji past the caves carved into the approach to
the temple. The caves were used for memorial services and as a cinerarium to
house the ashes of the deceased. The caves were constructed some 700 years ago
and remained in use until a few hundred years ago. Several restaurant options
are available for lunch in this area.

Tuesday 7th November Tokyo to Kyoto: Leaving Tokyo we take the shinkansen to
Kyoto, which delivers us to the historic old capital of Japan around 1 p.m.
During the afternoon we usually visit the very accessible Fushimi Inari Shinto
shrine with its famous 10,000 torii gates. The walk to the top of Inari Yama (to
see all 10,000!) takes a couple of hours and is definitely optional"?

Wednesday 8th November Kyoto: Visit the "Golden Pavilion" Kinkaku-ji in the
north-west of the city and then Nijo Castle (the palace buildings are one the
best surviving examples of castle palace architecture of Japan's feudal era),
before heading to Heian Shrine and gardens.

Shopping at the covered Nishiki Market, which includes a selection of local food
stalls. The Isetan and Takashimaya department stores are also excellent for
shopping and both have vast food halls.

Thursday 9th November Kyoto: Visit the beautiful Arashiyama district for viewing
the autumn leaves and enjoy the view across the Katsura River and the nearby Sagano
bamboo grove. Visit some of the temples and gardens. The nearby Ryoanji Temple
is the site of Japan's most famous rock garden.

Optional: Day trip to the world heritage site at Nara. At Nara there is both
Todai-ji temple (with the world's largest bronze Buddha), and Kagusa Shinto
shrine. There are sacred deer roaming the park and some excellent souvenir
shopping options.

Friday 10th November Himeji and Okayama day trip: Take the bullet train south to
the castle towns of Himeji and Okayama. Korakuen at Okayama is a beautiful
landscape garden and is ranked as one of Japan's three best landscape gardens.
It is located just beside Okayama Castle. The main building of Okayama Castle is
the six story castle keep. The keep's interior is modern and displays exhibits
on the history and development of the castle.

At Himeji, Kokoen is a relatively recently constructed Japanese style garden,
which was opened in 1992. Himeji Castle is also known as White Heron Castle due
to its elegant, white appearance. It is considered by many to be Japan's most
spectacular castle for its imposing size, beauty and its well preserved, complex
castle grounds.

Saturday 11th November Kyoto to Takayama: Travel by Shinkansen and then
local train to the onsen (hot spring) mountain town of Takayama. Explore the
town's historic buildings and shops on foot. The local specialty is Hida beef,
very good quality we recommend enjoying it at one of the local bbq restaurants.
Accommodation at a Japanese ryokan (inn), complete with onsen (hot springs
bath).

Sunday 12th November Takayama: During the morning explore the town's historic
buildings, morning market and shops on foot and/or visit the festival floats
exhibition hall. The afternoon is reserved for a ? day bus tour that visits the
World Heritage Site of Shirakawa-go with its old traditional "A frame"?
farmhouses.

Monday 13th November Takayama to Kanazawa: Leaving the mountains, complete the
journey across the main island of Honshu to Toyama and then catch the shinkansen
train to Kanazawa. The afternoon is set aside to visit the famous Kenrokuen
Garden and Kanazawa castle and it's small (but beautiful) castle garden.

Tuesday 14th November Kanazawa to Tokyo: Omi-cho market is a smaller, friendlier
version of the Tokyo Tsujiki fish market and a great location for a fresh
sashimi breakfast. Travel by shinkansen to Tokyo which will be our base for the
remaining time in Japan.

Wednesday 15th November Tokyo: Mito day trip: Taking a limited express train an
hour north of Tokyo, visit Mito, the capital of Ibaraki Prefecture. Kairakuen
Garden is ranked among Japan's three finest landscape gardens. It is most famous
for its over three thousand plum trees. Kairakuen also features a bamboo grove,
cedar woods and the Kobuntei, a traditional Japanese style building.

Thursday 16th November Tokyo: Option to visit Ashikaga Flower Park.
Located in Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture this is focused more on flowering
plants rather than landscapes. Other
options for the day include visiting the national gardens at Shinjuku, the
Palace East gardens or Hamarikyu Garden that feature seawater ponds that change
level with the tides, and a teahouse on an island where visitors can rest and
enjoy the scenery (including the Tokyo skyscraper skyline).

Friday 17th November Tokyo: Final time in Tokyo before heading to the airport
for your flight home.

Price Inclusions/exclusions

Pricing is takes into account the accommodation rates that we expect to be in
place at the time of bookings. The tour price reflects the fact that rates are
lower when booked in advance, and more expensive when booked shortly before the
tour commences.

The price for a fifteen day tour (accommodation for fourteen
nights) is from Y595,000 per person share twin/double. Shorter or longer duration is also available.

For solo travellers (one person, without a shared room), the cost of
accommodation is unable to be shared, but we have a policy to limit the extra
cost and have priced our tour for a single person at JPY695,000. An early
confirmed booking discount would also apply.

Prices include rail transfers from Narita to Tokyo and
14 day rail pass, entrance fees and tour fees. Accommodation
is selected to average 4-star or higher and will normally include breakfast. Please let us know if you would like
either twin or double beds.